Divine Knowledge: The Tale of the Magic Tree…
“Said a tree to a man, “My roots are in the deep red earth, and I shall give you of my fruit.” And the man said to the tree, “How alike we are. My roots are also deep in the red earth. And the red earth gives you power to bestow upon me of your fruit, and the red earth teaches me to receive from you with thanksgiving.” Kahlil Gibran
Divine Knowledge: The Tale of the Magic Tree... Image via Wikipedia
Many moons ago, in an ancient village far, far away, when man and beast lived in harmony, there was a poor farmer, named Jama, who struggled to grow his crops. During the planting season, he joined his neighbors and friends to till the earth and seed the ground, saying prayers for an abundant harvest. Throughout the growing season, he would venture out to his tiny farm, nursing each seedling, taming each weed and then, he would wait, like everyone else for the harvest.
Somehow, in his heart, he feared that, even with loving care and effort, his crops would not grow because he believed that his farm was small, his soil was barren and an ancient curse had been passed down to him through his ancestral lineage. As the harvest season approached, he fretted and worried and complained to everyone about his fears; why did his neighbors enjoy such fecundity and he such failure at farming? At harvest time, the measly produce from his farm meant he had to, again, beg and borrow from others in the village to see him through the cold season, until the warm weather and planting seasons arrived again.
As time went by, the farmer grew desolate and prayed for help to solve his problem. He planted his measly seedlings again, and having mastered the voice of discontent, he imagined failure and disaster even as he attempted to pray for a reversal of his fortunes. Alas, his harvest produced the expected crops and the farmer was besides himself. By now, his wife who had long endured his misery and complaints, advised him to go sit under the great baobab tree — the magic tree of rest and resolution.
“Trees are poems the earth writes upon the sky; we fell them down and turn them into paper, that we may record our emptiness.” Khalil Gibran
Divine Knowledge: The Tale of the Magic Tree
The farmer was reluctant to go because the last time he sat under the tree, many planting seasons ago, a swarm of fiery, angry black ants had attacked him; leaving him with huge red bite marks that took weeks to heal. He didn’t want to go but his wife insisted. “We are at desperation’s door; a visit to the magic tree might yield its secrets. After all, it is called the magic tree of divine knowledge for a reason.” She said. After much debate, he agreed to go … the next day.
The following morning, at sunrise, he walked to the location of the tree but, to his surprise, it was not there. He threw his hands up in the air, and as he began to rain curses on the ancients for tormenting him, a clear and firm voice called his name. “Jama! Jama! Why do you whine so loudly?” The farmer looked around in shock, for he was in the woods alone and no one had followed him there. Again, the voice called out, “Jama! Jama! Over here … turn right. Look across the mound of dirt next to the day lilies. Look, I am here; but why do you whine so much?”
Jama the farmer turned and saw the magic tree in all it’s majesty; it had an ethereal glow and it seemed to vibrate with unusual strength. He fell to the ground and pleaded, “Oh divine tree, help me find an answer to my measly crops. I am destitute and my family is suffering.” The tree spoke again, “Jama, the answers are inside you. Divine knowledge resides in your heart. You must leave the complaints at your doorstep and trust, like your neighbors do, that your seeds will bear abundant fruit. You must then nurture them, and imagine them growing abundantly and … ask your neighbor Jebe to share his special manure with you. It is simple. Ask for help from your heart and believe the help will come … then move your feet.”
Jama thanked the tree and went home with a joyful heart. He took the advice given, got the fertilizer, and left the past stories of woe behind him. The following harvest season … we all know what his harvested crops looked like. Hmmm mmm. via eof 🙂 What are your thoughts?
Positive Motivation Tip: All things exist within us, and us within all things. When we ask for help, we must believe and move our feet. The answers are there for us…
Related Articles
- What is the difference between the boababtrees with the pinkish colour bark and the normal one? (greenanswers.com)
- Baobab Beauty (otomys.wordpress.com)
- Adansonia – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (csnaworld.wordpress.com)
CREDITS/ATTRIBUTIONS: Photo of Adansonia grandidieri Baobab Tree by Bgag via Wikipedia & Photo of Adansonia digitata Baobab Tree by Per Harald Olsen via Wikipedia
Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
Mirth and Motivation
Positive Kismet
Practicing my faith on a daily basis…my middle name (Faith) stands as a constant reminder to believe, even when the answers I receive in the immediate are different from that which I desire… leaving it in His hands.
I am with you on that… Faith inside myself, action, trusting it all in His hands… moving my feet. TY! 🙂
Eliz
Trees have always presented themselves as being unique and mysterious to me. When I began drawing years ago the most interesting structure in a landscape was the tree. There are so many forms in those roots, trunks, and branches that create beautiful art and design. As an abstract and surrealist artist, trees seemed to embody a great mystery. And for me, sitting under a tree provides a place of rest, visions of creative thought, and spiritual recollection.
Thanks Eliz for this wonderful posting.
Walter
Thnak you Walter… Trees offer such grace and sustenance that we can’t say enough about the mystical/magical qualities of trees. I also find myself starting with trees when I draw or imagine a landscape… 🙂
Thnak you,
Eliz
The magic of the tree,
is a mystery to me.
It starts out small,
then grows so very tall.
It points up to the sky,
I pray I go to Heaven
This is no lie.
Written by jackie paulson 2011
That is wonderful… I love the starts out small and grows very tall line… All things we do begin that way too and then a lot happens afterwards. 🙂
Thank you,
Eliz
I needed to hear this old tale! It really spoke to me in a divine way!
Hi Donna,
I’m glad you found the message compelling… I’m glad it spoke to you… 😉
Thank you,
Eliz
Stopping by from SITS. I live in Africa so many of those pictures are familiar to me.
Hi Amy,
Thanks for stopping by… Yes, the Baobab tree offers a lot to many on the continent and that is why I love it. I will visit you shortly as I’m curious to read about your journey and more. 🙂
Thank you,
Eliz
“You must leave the complaints at your doorstep and trust, like your neighbors do, that your seeds will bear abundant fruit…”
so I had to trust, that one day my music would become better, producing more energy and joy…
And so you did and so it did…I love your music. As creative people, we know that at some point, we need to step out of the way and let the work happen; no expectations… just grace. 🙂
Thank you,
Eliz
Love the “Tale of the Magic Tree” as trees have always fasinated me, they grow in all different directions, just as our life carries us through this journey of life on earth.
You are so creative, in giving food for thought in each of your posts, reaching the depth of our soul for gaining inspiration for our walks of life.
Thank you penny, the sentiments are mutual. The prompt from Daily Post and Plinky, on writing about a magic tree, got me thinking about how to frame it in a post… These stories come to me in a spontaneous way and they develop as I write them; even the characters show up and introduce themselves… I love the process. 🙂
Thank you,
Eliz
This is a wonderful, wonderful post, Eliz.
Loved the quotes, the fable, and the truths both impart. Thanks!
Hi Nancy, Glad you liked it …. It was a joy to write and I’m very happy that others connected with it.
I enjoyed your post too and look forward to more. 🙂
Thank you,
Eliz
Elizabeth, I know you have a gazillion followers but when I read this I had chills as though you were talking only to me. This post brought me to tears for reasons I’m sure you understand. You bring so much richness and faith to my life with your posts.
I often feel in the struggles of life that angry fiery ants are biting me as well. And my emotions ebb and flow but I never give up. Since the first time I came here, I sometimes sneak back because there are moments that I need a post from you to act as my buoy.
Strangely, I feel I have been guided to your blog to energize and support me in my daily travails. All I can say this morning is “thank you.”
Hi Karen,
Oh wow! I am so touched by your comment… I don’t know what to say but Thank you too! Your efforts inspire me as well and I am deeply touched by your comment… You know, we write our blogs and post them without expectation and when I read comments like yours, it encourages me to just keep at it; even when battling a cold like I am now. 🙂
Thank you so much,
Eliz
Yet another enlightening post. Im fine Eliz! haha! Good to know that Alice in wonderland won! =D
Hi dear one, Good to see you again. I was happy too and I must see the movie soon as those wonderfully zany colors and creatures must be very, very inspiring. 🙂
Thank you,
Eliz
Even without the words of your post, the pictures of the trees spoke volumes!
Aren’t those trees remarkable… an artist’s dream. Walter spoke about the creativity that can come from trees and I agree. 🙂
Thank you,
Eliz
What a haunting tale and lesson learned. I was touched by the farmer’s struggle.
So many are suffering as I write and I believe a message of hope, a little bit of help goes far.
The layers are rich. You write and tell these stories well. Good thing you copyright your stories.
B
Yes, there is so much suffering going on around the world. 60 Minutes today featured the growing number of homeless families and it again reminded me of all the pain we see and how much we need to build our support systems and strength in the months to come. 🙂
Yes, my stories are copyrighted and I usually distinguish mine from stories I find elsewhere by identifying the source of outside stories… 🙂
God is good and we all need blessings especially in the current economic climate.
Thank you,
Eliz
I like that story. It is so fitting for some of the future decisions my husband and I are about to make. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Pamela,
Thanks for your comment and I hope the decisions work out well for both of you. Good to see you here again. 🙂
Thank you,
Eliz